5 competing for 4 seats on District 202 board

State funding for education and the district budget were among the top concerns at a forum this week for candidates vying for a spot on the Plainfield Community Unit School District 202 board.

Five candidates are running for four open seats on the school board and all fielded questions during a candidates forum Monday. Incumbents Rod Westfall and Michelle Smith are seeking another term. Bill Slabich Jr., William Dargan and P. Anne Walchshauser are seeking their first term on the board.

Though all agreed the district is facing fiscal challenges, they offered different views on how to deal with some of the financial issues. Westfall urged continued pressure on state lawmakers to comply with their state funding requirements. Walchshauser suggested looking to things that don't cost money — such as how the district handles personal days or conferences — to offer to teachers as a benefit. Meanwhile, Smith suggested that the district look at the way it compensates teachers and perhaps only offer raises to those who perform well.

In addition to the district's tightening budget and the uncertainty of state funding, candidates also discussed other issues such as school safety, charter schools and curriculum.

"I believe we have a good school district but I believe we are facing some critical years," Walchshauser said, noting the district will need to deal with fiscal challenges, the implementation of core curriculum and welcome a new superintendent all within the coming years. "These are very important years."

Candidates offered similar views on many issues, including charter schools. Though Smith offered the only support for the concept of charter schools, she said she could not support a proposal for an online charter school. The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposed online charter school at their April 15 meeting. Other candidates, including Westfall, also said they would not support the measure, saying it would take funds away from the district.

"Quite frankly, it was a waste of time and very pathetic," Westfall said of the presentation board members heard last week about the online charter school. "I will definitely not support it."

Smith offered the only support for police officers to have additional weapons at the schools, provided they were kept locked in a gun safe and in a secured room accessible only by a police officer.

"The way our schools are set up, it's very difficult for one police officer to chase (an intruder) down," she said. "If they had the opportunity to protect our children before other police officers got there, I'd feel a lot more comfortable."

Other candidates said they would not support having additional weapons, but said the district should look at other safety issues — such as having police officers conduct random safety checks throughout district buildings.

All candidates acknowledged that they want to continue what the district has done and see the district through challenging times.

"We've got to look at what's in the best interest of those that we are here to educate," said Dargan.

Slabich agreed and, like other candidates, suggested the district also needs to focus on staff morale.

"(We need to) try to get everyone to work together," Slabich said. "It's much easier to deal with a boss who is going to have an open door."